Sure. East coast start times instead of west coast start times, less travel for the team, better draws in terms of opponents from a regional standpoint, etc. Basically all the reasons a team like Detroit would also benefit from the move (my friend who's a Wings fan is just dying to see the Leafs/Wings rivalry rekindled) but the Wings have proven to be successful despite being in the West. The Jackets haven't.

It looks like they can both move, so this is a moot point...but if I were the NHL and only one could go, I'd choose Columbus. It's what's best for the league, not what's best for the Detroit Red Wings.

There was some pundit (McKenzie or LeBrun) speculating that NHL would prefer relocating to Seattle and then in a few years expand in Toronto and Quebec because they could get so much in expansion fees ($500M) in those markets.

It's all about money.

It's simple , it will be easier to sell hockey in Seattle with a relocation insted of an expension . If you start a team in a new market, it's easier to sell your product with a winning team instead of an expension team that will likely lose for their first 4-5 years .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foppa2118

Yea, I heard a similar thing earlier in the year. The expansion fees, and revenue sharing boost from another Toronto based team would be insane.

It's why the owners were so comfortable holding out until the last second playing hardball with the union IMO.

Same goes with Québec , it's already a hockey market , the NHL have no effort to make , to sell their product. they are waiting for a franchise with an owner willing to pay . Plus , the fans wants to have another franchise so much that they wouldnt care to get an expension team. the Collisé would be full , night after night , even if the teams finish dead last for a few years in a row ... somthing that probably couldnt work in a new hockey market like Seattle.

It's simple , it will be easier to sell hockey in Seattle with a relocation insted of an expension . If you start a team in a new market, it's easier to sell your product with a winning team instead of an expension team that will likely lose for their first 4-5 years .

Same goes with Québec , it's already a hockey market , the NHL have no effort to make , to sell their product. they are waiting for a franchise with an owner willing to pay . Plus , the fans wants to have another franchise so much that they wouldnt care to get an expension team. the Collisé would be full , night after night , even if the teams finish dead last for a few years in a row ... somthing that probably couldnt work in a new hockey market like Seattle.

It makes sense business wise, for the NHL to act like this .

Do you think it would work in those three locations (Toronto, Quebec City and Seattle)?

Do you think it would work in those three locations (Toronto, Quebec City and Seattle)?

Québec and Toronto would work , Seattle i have my doubts ... but maybe that's because i want to have a team back in Québec .

Québec is a small market but they have crazy hockey fans and an onwer with money , newspapers/web and his own sports station , to make it work .

Toronto is also an insane hockey market , plus they have enough population for another Team, i have no doubts . The only thing i wonder about the Tor2 is that they could take away fans from Ottawa , who is a small market and need every sports /dollars per fan to survive .

I'm actually from Southern Ontario and went back a few weeks ago for the first time in 14 years. I was SHOCKED to see so many cities around Toronto who's population has literally DOUBLED in that time span. (For example, I remember Oakville had 99,000 for the longest time, now they are at something like 171,000)

There's been a HUGE population boom in the Toronto region, I have no doubt that a team in Markham or whatever would EASILY work and it wouldn't hurt the leafs one bit.

I'm actually from Southern Ontario and went back a few weeks ago for the first time in 14 years. I was SHOCKED to see so many cities around Toronto who's population has literally DOUBLED in that time span. (For example, I remember Oakville had 99,000 for the longest time, now they are at something like 171,000)

There's been a HUGE population boom in the Toronto region, I have no doubt that a team in Markham or whatever would EASILY work and it wouldn't hurt the leafs one bit.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be viable, because I think it would be. I just don't see the NHL wanting to add another team to Toronto and rather add another another team in the US, especially if Quebec gets a team.

What is the attendance difference between Lakers/Clippers, Ducks/Kings, and Dodgers/Angels if you know? Because one of those teams always have attendance problems due to the other one being a bigger market.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenchy

Québec and Toronto would work , Seattle i have my doubts ... but maybe that's because i want to have a team back in Québec .

Québec is a small market but they have crazy hockey fans and an onwer with money , newspapers/web and his own sports station , to make it work .

Toronto is also an insane hockey market , plus they have enough population for another Team, i have no doubts . The only thing i wonder about the Tor2 is that they could take away fans from Ottawa , who is a small market and need every sports /dollars per fan to survive .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

I'm actually from Southern Ontario and went back a few weeks ago for the first time in 14 years. I was SHOCKED to see so many cities around Toronto who's population has literally DOUBLED in that time span. (For example, I remember Oakville had 99,000 for the longest time, now they are at something like 171,000)

There's been a HUGE population boom in the Toronto region, I have no doubt that a team in Markham or whatever would EASILY work and it wouldn't hurt the leafs one bit.

I used to be a huge believer that hockey could work in Seattle, but I am starting to question. I mean them, Milwaukee/Madison, Omaha, or Portland would be the best cities to put a new hockey team for the United States (don't listen to the hype about Houston, Virginia Beach, or others). Don't worry Frenchy, I see Quebec as a better version of Winnipeg and look how good they have been with an average team. It is just a matter of time before Quebec gets a team! Overall I think it would be awesome to see Quebec and Seattle get a team.

I actually have my doubts of Toronto's 2nd team would be a success, like how many Leaf or Senator fans would become Markham fans? But based on these posts it is very interesting to see that you guys say it will work. I just hope Hamilton will not get a team because that is a big chunk of Sabres fans gone and I like the Sabres.

Our season schedule will be a hell of a lot more exciting with that new division. I get so tired of watching the same three canadian teams making up the bulk of the season. Too bad they couldn't get rid of Minnesota while they were at it.

Our season schedule will be a hell of a lot more exciting with that new division. I get so tired of watching the same three canadian teams making up the bulk of the season. Too bad they couldn't get rid of Minnesota while they were at it.

Our season schedule will be a hell of a lot more exciting with that new division. I get so tired of watching the same three canadian teams making up the bulk of the season. Too bad they couldn't get rid of Minnesota while they were at it.

I think Minnesota games will be getting a hell of a whole lot more exciting in coming years. There's too much talent there for them to remain a boring, low-scoring squad.